Radiator inclosure



Aug. 17, 1926.

| J. COLGAN RADIATOR INCLOSURE Filed June 19, 1925 INVENTOR By Attorneys, 5 ywmw Patented Aug. -17, 192e.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD J. concert, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro TUTTLE & BAILEY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY OF BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YQRK..

mm'ron mcnosuimi Application filed June 19, 1925. Serial No. 38,277.

This invention relates to improvements in radiator inclosures adapted to house an ordlnary steam or hot water radiator m such manner as to present an artistic appearance in the room in which it is placed without interfering with effective air circulation from the chamber to be heated to and about the coils of the radiator and back into. said chamber. V

It is an object of the invention, among other things: p

To provide such an inclosure w1th a hinged cover, which may be raised and supported in an inclined position, adapted to serve as a heat deflector at times when the radiator is in use, and adapted to be closed and thereby convert the inclosure into a practical andartistic seat when the radiator is not in use;

To provide the radiator inclosure with a humidifier of such form and location as to cooperate with the cover in deflecting ascending air currents forwardly into the room to be heated;

To apply a sealing strip to the rear surface of-the humidifier and pivotally mount the same in such manner that it will tend to swing rearwardly and maintain a close contact between the sealing strip and the well against which the housing may be placed 1n order to prevent circulation of air between the humidifier and said wall.

In the drawings illustrating form of the invention,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a radiator inclosure embodying the invention, with the cover in its raised position.

Fig. 2 is a view, in transverse section, of the radiator illustrated in Fig. 1.

- Fig. 3 is a top view'of the radiator 1nclosure, parts thereof being indicated in section.

The form of inclosure herein disclosed for pur oses of illustration comprises a frame- 45 wor consisting of up er and'lower rails 20, 21 and stiles 22, within which may be mounted at the frontan open screen or grillwork preferably divided into panels 23, 24, 25 by divisionbars 26'. Theends of said 1n- 50 closure may, if desired,-be in the form of solid panels 27. The inclosure may be supported at a suitable distance above the floor in any appropriate manner, as by legs 28, whereby the relatively cold air currents the preferred along the floor are freely admitted to the its raised position,

bottom of the inclosed radiators 9 (Fig. 2).-

To insure a free circulation of air over the coils of the radiator and back into the space to be heated, the top of the inclosure, or a material portion thereof, is made in the form of a cover 30, hinged as at 31 so that it can be lifted or tilted upwardly about a longitudinal axis running along the upper rear part of the inclosure to the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 2 in which it serves as a deflector adapted to direct air currents forwardly through the opening between the cover and the top of the inclosure.

If desired, the cover may be provided with an cpenwork screen which may be divided into panels 32, 33, 34 by division bars 35 s0 located as to harmonize with the screen mounted in the front Wall of the radiator inclosure. This screen 32, 33, 3 llma be hinged, as at 36, to the under side 0 the cover 30, and the upper rail of the inclosure may be rabbeted to provide a ledge 37 adapted to receive and sup ort the lower edge of the screen. If desire a s shown) may be provided normal y ten ing ring not Q to swing the screen 32, 33, 34 outwardly into.

engagement with the ledge 37 whereby the screen will serve as a suitable support for the cover when raised to its inclined position. Any appropriate means, such forexample as spring-pressed buttons 38, may be provided whereby the screen may be thrust inwardly clear'of the ledge 37, after which the cover 30 may be lowered to the position indicated in brokenlines in Fig. 2;

The openings between the cover, when in and. the top of the end walls'of the inclosure may be closed b solid triangular panels 39, having front e ges 40 disposed at such an angle as to permit the screen 32, 33, 34 to be moved rearwardl to 'its position clear of. the ledge 37.

aid screen may, if desired, have rearwardlyturned end portions 41 in lappingrelation with panels 39 to close the gap between the anels and the screen when in the position lndicated in Fig. 2.

It will be amiarent that anyappropriate means may be provided whereby the cover 30 may be su ported at various degrees of inclination in ependently of the screen. It will also be apparent that any suitable means may be provided for releasing the cover and permitting it'to be lowered to its closed position;

,material, which may For the purpose of moistening the air heated by the radiator a humidifier is provided, preferably in the form of a tank 42. This tank may be so mounted as to cause a sealing strip 43 of felt or other appropriate be secured along its rear surface, to be constantly held in close engagement with the surface 44 of the wall against. which the radiator inclosure may be placed. This is best accomplished by piv otally mounting'the tank as at 45, the center, of gravity of the tank being so disposed with respect to the axis of its pivotal mounting as to tend to cause a rearward rotation of the part of the tank along which the sealing strip is secured.

In the preferred form of the invention the front wall 46 of the tank should be flared upwardly and forwardly whereby upwardly-directed air currents, which are prevented from passing to the rear of the tank by the sealing strip 43, will be deflected forwardly towards the opening between the top of the radiator inclosure and the raised cover. The inclined cover cooperates with the wall 46 of the tank to direct the rising currents of heated air overthe top of the front wall of the inclosure into the room to be heated.

In order to avoid the trapping of heat in the upper part of the inclosure when the cover is in its lowered position, the contact ing surfaces between the cover and the top of theinclosure may be notched to provide outlets for the heated air. This is indicated in Fig. l in which the upper rail 20 is provided with recesses 4? for such purpose.

The inclosure may be constructed entirely of metal or of wood having any desired parts protected by asbestos, or, as herein disclosed, it may consist of a framework of wood and openwork screens or grills of metal. The humidifier may be constructed of copper or other suitable material.

It will be appreciated that the above described radiator inclosure with its cover lifted to the inclined position illustrated in Fig.2, provides for most efficient and satisfactory circulation of air when the radiator is in use. At seasons of the year when the radiator is not in use the cover may be lowered, thereby transforming the inclosure into'a substantial window-seat of attractive artistic appearance. Tn mild weather re ains.

the radiator may be used efiectively with the cover in its lowered position since the screen 23, 24, and the recesses 47 amply provide for the escape of heated air through the front of the inclosure into the room in which itis used. The screen 32, 33, 34 suspended from the cover may be so harmonized with the screen 23, 24, 25 as to give an impression of. unity of design such as will avoid any objectionable appearance due to the use of the inclosure with the cover in its lifted position. The inclosure is, therefore, especially adapted for use the year round, being immediately convertible from its condition for winter service to its condition for summer service.

The invention is not intended to be limited tothe particular form'selected for purposes of illustration but should be regarded as including variations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a radiator inclosure, of a humidifier comprising a tank extending along the upper rear portion thereof with an upwardly and forwardly flaring front wall, said inclosure having a cover hinged to swing upwardly about a longitudinal axis extending along its rear upper portion above said tank, whereby the cover, when raised to an inclined position, coo erates with the upwardly and forward- 1y aring front wall of said tank to form a deflector by which air currents rising from said inclosure are directed forwardly into the chamber in which the inclosure is used.

2. The combination with an open-back radiator inclosure, of a humidifier comprising a tank extending along the rear portion thereof and a sealing strip carried by and extending lengthwise along th. rear surface of said tank, said tank being mounted to swing about a longitudinal axis so disposed with respect to its center of gravity that it will tend to move to a position such as to maintain the sealing strip in close contact with a wall surface against which the in closure may be placed and prevent air circulation at the rear of said inclosure be tween said tank and said wall.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

LEONARD J. GULGAN. 

